Windows 10 Problem Reporting Thread

[Prophet42 1,500]

59 minutes ago, Xerjin said:

So I have to buy the game AGAIN!!

I know, it sucks!!  If you end up buying the digital version, STAY AWAY FROM THE ORIGIN version.  This version is not patched to the latest version and is in fact is un-patchable.  With an un-patched game you would not be able to install NAM and I think the night lighting would not work correctly on custom content.  I would suggest buying the game from GOG (don't use GOG Galaxy to install the game though).  The GOG version is DRM free and you don't have to be online to run it.  You could also buy it from Steam, but then of course you have to be connected to the Steam client to run the game.

[CorinaMarie 29,569]

7 minutes ago, Prophet42 said:

I think the night lighting would not work correctly on custom content.

Yep. This is true.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

9 hours ago, Xerjin said:

So I have to buy the game AGAIN!!

No, there is another way. Create a Win-7 machine for all of your legacy games 1998-2008. Not only can you satisfy the disk security, but you can also assure DirectX 9-whatever. Win-XP also works.

Win-7 goes out of support in 11 days, so surplus licenses install disks should be a dime a dozen.

I myself run SC4 (and RR Tycoon II Platinum) on such a machine. I also (very rarely) run some even older games on a 486 machine (DOS-6 and Win-3.1) from 1993 

[rsc204 21,805]

On 03/01/2020 at 6:39 AM, jeffryfisher said:

No, there is another way. Create a Win-7 machine for all of your legacy games 1998-2008. Not only can you satisfy the disk security, but you can also assure DirectX 9-whatever. Win-XP also works.

Honestly if this was my second computer, I'd stick with the Native DX9 support of WindowsXP. As of the end of the month, Win7 will be much the same in terms of security risks. But, having to switch between two PCs is not for everyone. One way or another, I certainly get more than my fair share of PC parts, I have way too much old junk here! At the moment my backup PC is a z87 / Haswell i7 machine, which until very recently was my main machine, which is now a z97 / Broadwell i7. I still rarely use the second, simply because I have twin 1080p displays on the main machine and once you're spoiled by 2 monitors, using one at 1650x1050 just isn't the same. I think the point here is that a lot of what works for someone is going to be determined by personal preference and circumstances.

But if the only issue I had backwards-compatibility wise, was one game that was $5 in a sale, I'd just wait for the sale and pay the $5. Honestly, it's like $5 and you've gotta be real poor if that presents a problem for you.

I was also annoyed when I had to re-buy SC4 myself (GoG), although I got super-lucky, paying less than 2,50€ and getting a free copy of SC2K into the bargain. I've always been a staunch anti-DRM supporter, shunning modern PC games that wouldn't work without it, even though I really wanted a couple. Safedisc and such methods, was never seen as a potential problem so no one made a fuss, just like Steam/Origin's DRM and the like, seems to without problem now, that doesn't mean this can't change.

The irony of course being, you CAN make SC4 work without DRM/CD checks, only those who paid for SC4 are getting screwed by this. SC4 being one of thousands of games affected by the same issue. DRM just hands control to Publishers and never actually prevents those people who refuse to pay from finding a copy. Publishers know this, but yet DRM is still a thing. I get it, just because someone can burgle your home, doesn't mean you don't fit a lock. But if that lock might prevent you getting in your own home, but not the thieves, clearly something is wrong.

On 03/01/2020 at 6:39 AM, jeffryfisher said:

Win-7 goes out of support in 11 days, so surplus licenses install disks should be a dime a dozen.

Nope. Because every valid Win7 licence can be used to activate a very expensive copy of Windows 10. For example, the only legal way to buy Win10 Pro in Germany costs 250€, OK most people will be fine with Home, but that's almost 150€. Let's say you bought a second hand motherboard using such an OEM licence upgrade, you can't transfer OEM licences, it remains with the hardware, i.e. the seller's just lost their valid licence. Windows 10 looks for a hardware signature, which is basically the motherboard's serial number I suspect*. Long and short, my 140€ 2nd hand motherboard came with a free copy of Windows 10 Pro. BUT, even though by MS's T&C's it's a valid OEM licence, if MS were to decide otherwise, I've nothing tangible to prove ownership of it. Unlike my 110€ 2nd hand Thinkpad, which I have a verified upgrade path from the OEM Win7 Pro Licence. Not that I'm keeping Win10 on either, but it's nice to think I have Digital Licences waiting should I need them later.

You can buy a Win7/8/10 or suitable licence many places, scratch the surface though and you'll see most are scams. Do you REALLY think a 250€ retail product is being sold legally for 5€-10€? Of course these are not legitimate and eventually, you'll probably still have to pay the full cost if you risk it.

Now scour eBay for an actual licence for Win7, not an OEM version, that's not technically legit here either. One with a verifiable Product Key and perhaps too the media. If you can even find such a thing amongst the 1,000's of scams, you'll see it's not so cheap.

 

* Having purchased 2 identical motherboards recently, to finally restore my system to it's intended configuration, (with a backup in case the MB dies), only one has a validated Win10 key. All the other connected hardware is different from the original configuration, so in conclusion, this system isn't hugely smart (hardware signature).

[Xerjin 11]

On 03/01/2020 at 5:39 AM, jeffryfisher said:

No, there is another way. Create a Win-7 machine for all of your legacy games 1998-2008. Not only can you satisfy the disk security, but you can also assure DirectX 9-whatever. Win-XP also works.

Win-7 goes out of support in 11 days, so surplus licenses install disks should be a dime a dozen.

I myself run SC4 (and RR Tycoon II Platinum) on such a machine. I also (very rarely) run some even older games on a 486 machine (DOS-6 and Win-3.1) from 1993 

Well if i ever win the lotto and can afford the space/time for two computers then yes this is an option....

....however that day is not today...

 

On 04/01/2020 at 6:20 PM, rsc204 said:

But if the only issue I had backwards-compatibility wise, was one game that was $5 in a sale, I'd just wait for the sale and pay the $5. Honestly, it's like $5 and you've gotta be real poor if that presents a problem for you.

I was also annoyed when I had to re-buy SC4 myself (GoG), although I got super-lucky, paying less than 2,50€ and getting a free copy of SC2K into the bargain. I've always been a staunch anti-DRM supporter, shunning modern PC games that wouldn't work without it, even though I really wanted a couple. Safedisc and such methods, was never seen as a potential problem so no one made a fuss, just like Steam/Origin's DRM and the like, seems to without problem now, that doesn't mean this can't change.

This is where I am in my head..... Though it sounds like I don't have the physical space RSC204 has

[philforhockey51 4,203]

Has anyone else been having issues with the city save file getting screwed up though you did not do any of the typical things that might corrupt it like save and exit to region button? For some reason the same exact city tile keeps getting screwed up, I've replaced it with a previous version 2 times thinking I screwed up and saved it wrong or something and finally just deleted and leveled it and started from scratch, tried going in and out of the new city with no issue, worked on it saved no issue, went back in no issue, next day the game crashes if I try to enter the city.  There are 4 city connectors to the same neighbor tile, one maxis elevated highway, two rail and one road, I went into neighbor tile made a new road connection from that side and went back into the new city with no issue, tried to go back in a little later and it crashed. I never had an issue like this until 10 so Im thinking it might be related to all the other issues 10 is giving us.

[CorinaMarie 29,569]

@philforhockey51

While I know nothing about Win 10, I just want to check that you also know to never change focus way from SC4 during the save. Right? Like if it's saving, don't go check your email or anything else. That's an almost guaranteed way to corrupt the save file under any OS.

[philforhockey51 4,203]

game is only thing running I don't play in window mode, it's especially weird because it's happened to only this city tile over and over again

[xxdita 1,097]

5 hours ago, philforhockey51 said:

game is only thing running I don't play in window mode, it's especially weird because it's happened to only this city tile over and over again

Then there's probably something else going on with that city. Have you installed or removed any plugins since you started the city? Or since the last time it properly saved? Particularly, any mods, including Airports and Seaports. 

[philforhockey51 4,203]

since the restart of the city tile to the point it failed nothing was added or removed from the plugins folder.  The city did crash on me prior to it failing to open. I think what caused the crash was placing a road tile prior to the advisors window opening. As in since win 10 sometimes the advisors window that pops up at the beginning of entering a city is very slow to pop up and I have been able to scroll or even click a menu item before it finally pops up. I think that was the first time I placed something prior to the pop up and it was an instant crash as soon as I clicked to place.

[tariely 4,496]

Reading the whole thread (yes...) I am beginning to quake in my boots re my intent of buying a new laptop --for SC4 only-- with windows 10 ; I would play with the Steam version, but mostly I want to use it to LOT, i.e. I NEED all the SC4 tools to work (Lot Editor, Ilive Reader, PIMX, DataNode, and SC4Tools.) As the sale ends on the 18th of this month (a really good bargain for the smallish, i3-1011OU, 15,6 screen, 256 G SSD, 8 G RAM Acer), I'd like to know : might this be a mistake ? I can also wipe win10 and install a lean, clean, mean version of Windows 8.1., of course...

[xxdita 1,097]

I'm not sure about Maxis' Lot Editor, but I believe the one included with PIMX is much better anyway. All versions of Reader seem to work just fine. I've had no problem with DataNode. I don't do much transit-enabling, but I think we've discussed SC4Tool already, so that should be fine as well under compatibility mode. 

[tariely 4,496]

Considering the positive comments I've got both on SC4D and from batlotters friends, I bought the Thing. Stay tuned for my next cry for help, though  ! 

[xxdita 1,097]

Hopefully you can just copy your current Plugins over as they are. Don't forget the 4GB patcher thingy that comes with NAM. 

[tariely 4,496]

OMG what's that ? I've never had that with NAM (36) --that I know of. You trying to scare me ? 

[xxdita 1,097]

4gb_patch.exe should be found in your \Documents\SimCity 4\NAM Auxiliary Files\Tools folder. 

It patches the game to make use of up to 4GB RAM. Unless you've customized stuff, or have texture overrides and such in your NAM folder, you may want to just do a fresh install of NAM on the new machine. I don't know where you've had ReadMe's and such installed on your old one. 

[tariely 4,496]

ah, OK. Phew !   Thanks for the heads up anyway !

[Turnstyled 485]

This isn't a problem because I can run SimCity 4 in Windows 10 just fine, but in Strictoaster's video titled "How to run SimCity 4 in Hardware Mode under Windows 10 - Tutorial", he recommends changing some values in Graphics Rules.sgr and adding a line to it. The changed values and added line are as follows:

property noPartialBackingStoreCopies        false       #turn off "special" low-impact scrolling mode.
property useSecondStage                     true        # Default, overridden below in most cases.
property texBindMaxFree                     32          # To stop thrashing, plus a little pad.
property dirtyRectMergeFrames               1           # Default, for low-end card.
property TextureBits                        32           # mostly just for preview -- everything else should be DXT

# ADD THIS LINE
property usevertexbuffers false                        # turn on buttery smooth scrolling

He doesn't know what those values mean or do. Is this something that would be recommended or beneficial?

  Edited February 23, 2020 by Turnstyled  
Changed some wording

[xxdita 1,097]

I have no idea. Different graphics cards will require different settings. 

But I'd be hesitant to take advice when the person giving it doesn't even know what it does. 

[Turnstyled 485]

1 hour ago, xxdita said:

I have no idea. Different graphics cards will require different settings. 

But I'd be hesitant to take advice when the person giving it doesn't even know what it does. 

Gotcha. I'll stick with the default settings unless someone will be able to give me an informed explanation.

[xxdita 1,097]

You could Google the properties themselves for more information. There seems to be some info in the ST Omnibus related to at least one of them. 

[Turnstyled 485]

11 minutes ago, xxdita said:

You could Google the properties themselves for more information. There seems to be some info in the ST Omnibus related to at least one of them. 

I didn't think of that. Thanks. I'll do that. I'll also look through the ST Omnibus.

For whoever stumbles upon this comment, I'll be editing this post as I find more information.

I'm looking through a default Graphics Rules.sgr file while searching all these values.

Adding "property usevertexbuffers false" is to fix slowness when scrolling while running in hardware mode.

Setting "property noPartialBackingStoreCopies" to false in the ATI Radeon cards section is to fix scrolling issues with ATI/AMD Radeon cards.

The rest of the values are under Standard Hardware. By default, "property TextureBits" is set to 32, so that's unchanged. Strictoaster's copy of SimCity 4 was from Origin and mine is from GOG.

By default, "property useSecondStage" is set to false, "property texBindMaxFree" is set to 4, and "dirtyRectMergeFrames" is set to 6.

[rsc204 21,805]

One rule that remains golden with computers, don’t fix what isn’t broke. If you are getting good performance under DirectX, usually that’s fairly optimal. Toggling special 3D options aside, things found in Nvidia Control Panel or ATI’s Catalyst, just keep track of anything else you change. If a given command/edit makes no difference, go back to the default setting. But some of these edits may be absolutely essential, depending on your hardware setup.

[Haljackey 17,255]

I'm a little late to the party... finally upgraded from Windows 7 to 10 over the weekend. Waited over fear of not having SC4 work for a while so wanted to get a few things done in the game before upgrading. Been reading around here and the world wide web about SC4 compatibility.

 

I currently run SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition via a virtual CD

Launching SimCity4 via the EXE does in fact work with a version 640 patch HERE. However my game seems to crash a few moments after I load a region.

I can also get the game to work in compatibility mode with Windows XP service pack 3, although with the most basic settings. Mods seem to work but I can't leave Timbuktu. I can't change any graphics either.

 

So,

After reading around... I am totally screwed right? The only way to get this game to work is via a digital download now? (Which $26 CAD currently on GOG & Steam and I know to avoid Origin). Do any of the sites accept the original serial code(s) for the game? I have SC4, Rush Hour and Deluxe in my collection.

 

Fun side bit- found my CDs still in the case. My rush hour CD is scratched up beyond recognition. Yet somehow I got it to work for many many years before moving to a virtual drive with the deluxe edition.

[Eggman121 1,035]

I got a digital license ages ago from GOG and my recommendation would be to get a digital license from... (Unfortunately) Origin with your CD key (AFAIK you don't have to pay if you put in your CD key). If a sale comes up (they do come up every now and than) Than I would recommend Getting a GOG copy. Also, I would need confirmation on this but the CD key Route for Origin does not have the same patch restrictions as the paid counterpart??? (Other users would have to comment on this since I don't know the exact answer)

Shame you can't play at this point in time. You have been a very big part of the community of SC4 for a while now. I hope that you can sort something out.

-eggman121

[CorinaMarie 29,569]

7 hours ago, Haljackey said:

(Which $26 CAD currently on GOG & Steam and I know to avoid Origin).

Both Gog and Steam discount the game to about $5 a couple or three times per year so if you can hold off for that then it's much more economical to get it that way.

 

6 hours ago, Eggman121 said:

Also, I would need confirmation on this but the CD key Route for Origin does not have the same patch restrictions as the paid counterpart??? (Other users would have to comment on this since I don't know the exact answer)

I have indeed seen some members reply that the upgrade route via the CD key to the Origin version might be the fully patched one. What is so silly with the Origin one is that they fixed theirs at one time and then suddenly started selling the older digital version.

 

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

8 hours ago, Haljackey said:

Mods seem to work but I can't leave Timbuktu. I can't change any graphics either.

Just a random thought on this. I wonder if your SimCity 4.cfg file might've become corrupted or is missing somehow and not being created. This should be a settings data file found in the root of your "SimCity 4" folder in Documents, and provides the instructions for the last loaded region (with positioning), along with game settings. My thought is how if this is indeed invalid and it might be causing the issues when changing regions or saving graphics options.

Perhaps try moving this file out so it doesn't get loaded, and then it ought to get recreated upon starting the game again.

 

38 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

What is so silly with the Origin one is that they fixed theirs at one time and then suddenly started selling the older digital version.

I also remember how it was reported that a patched Origin game later got updated and downgraded back to being unpatched at a later date.

@Haljackey

So that might be something being wary of if going the code redemption route as @Eggman121 eluded to. It could be worth a try I suppose with it being a free option that may well be viable if the game reported 1.1.641.0 as patched. Otherwise I completely concur GOG is the best route which would allow total Windows 10 compatibility.

[Haljackey 17,255]

Thanks for the tips!

It's not that I can't afford the full priced GOG version, just looking for a possible way to avoid purchasing it because I'm frugal . If I do go this route I'll be sure to use the Simtrop affiliate link.

I'll see if I can get a Origin copy working with my code, and will report if its using version 640/641 or a unpatched version.

Even if I did get the virtual CD version working outside of Timbuktu in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP3, it will be running in a crappy resolution with other graphics not maxed, something I'll pay to avoid.

15 hours ago, Eggman121 said:

Shame you can't play at this point in time. You have been a very big part of the community of SC4 for a while now. I hope that you can sort something out.

Just a temporary setback. I'll be back up and running soon

[Haljackey 17,255]

So good news and bad news.

Good News

Got SimCity 4 on Origin with my old game code. Had to go to tech support. They gave me The Sims 4 Instead 😛

They then reversed and gave me SC4 Deluxe. This is what they gave me. Version 641.

I also got the game to work in with this shortcut code.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -Intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUPriority:high -d:DirectX -CPUCount:8 -w

----

But bad news...

The game is still crashing as soon as I load a region outside of Timbuktu. Could be due to some ordering problems as my documents are the same before the Windows 10 upgrade. Seems to load without any plugins, so continuing to investigate. Possibly due to a faulty plugin(s) maybe.

 

EDIT:

The region seems to load with some plugins installed, so this must be it. Now to find out which one(s)... will take some time

Anyone run into a file(s) crashing Windows 10?

  Edited March 3, 2020 by Haljackey  

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

41 minutes ago, Haljackey said:

The game is still crashing as soon as I load a region outside of Timbuktu. Could be due to some ordering problems as my documents are the same before the Windows 10 upgrade. Seems to load without any plugins, so continuing to investigate. Possibly due to a faulty plugin maybe.

Glad to hear you got the game from Origin using your original CD code free of charge, and most importantly it is fully patched based on the version shown.

I wonder whether it might be worth trying to reset that SimCity 4.cfg file I hinted at, and see whether it could do the trick. For how it loads when running vanilla and that sounds like it may well be a plugin conflict indeed there though, so narrowing it down in halves using the binary method may help identify the culprit.

@Haljackey
Edit: Just seen your edit upon refresh, so sounds good to pursue that strategy.
 

Something else came to mind is how you're setting the game to use 8 cores from the -CPUCount:8 command. From what I've heard, the game isn't able to optimally support multiple processor cores, and stability can be improved when limiting this to a single core only using the -CPUCount:1 switch on its own.

Maybe this is a possible thing to try also. Then again I wouldn't have thought it'd cause an instant CTD when switching to another region than the default Timbuktu.

Sounds like this is promising though, and a step in the right direction to Hal resuming his mayoral (and highway mastering) duties.

  Edited March 3, 2020 by Cyclone Boom  
Noticed Hal's edit, so edited based on the new update.